Ventilated cap assembly

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a ventilated cap assembly. The assembly includes an interior, semi-rigid, mesh component sized and shaped to conform to the crown of the user&#39;s head. A motorized fan is used to circulate air about the user&#39;s head, with intake and outlet openings used to facilitate air flow. A motorized adjustment band allows a user to fit the cap for size while wearing the cap, to ensure optimal sealing to promote efficient air flow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hats and headgear. More particularly, the invention is directed to an improved cap assembly having powered ventilation and size adjustment.

Description of the Prior Art

Ventilated headgear such as hats and caps have been known for a while, including those with powered fans and the like for moving air through the cap assembly. While these hats can be effective they suffer from a number of drawbacks, indeed, so many drawbacks that they are rarely seen for purchase anywhere.

Exemplary is U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,176 which describes an improved headgear having an outer shell and an inner liner providing a head receiving cavity. The headgear has a plurality of passive vents which, while potentially effective, are very aesthetically displeasing.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,896 describes an improved headgear that includes an outer shell and an inner liner providing a head receiving cavity. A headband is configured to allow the headband to be adjusted to many heads of different sizes. A fabric lining covers the headband forward and lateral portions and has slot openings through which the headband flexible members extend. An adjustable opening at the top of the fabric lining facilitates headgear vertical adjustment. A pair of side retention straps extend downwardly from the sides of the outer shell. A pair of rear retention straps mount to respective ones of the side retention straps and are adjustably secured to each other. The inner liner has channels that receive the side retention straps and allow them to drape down in close proximity to a wearer's temples and cheeks. While offering many adjustments for size, the cap suffers from the drawback that it is not intuitive to use, is difficult to manufacture, and expensive. Also, adjustment has to be done manually which requires many “try-ons” to get correct. As the cap is ventilated, an airtight seal makes the ventilation far more efficient and effective.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,774 describes a ventilating helmet which takes the form of sheet material wall member which has mounted thereon an electrically operated fan which is adapted to move air to the interior of the helmet. The electrically operated fan is to be operated through the use of a light sensitive, electrical energy producing cell.

The present invention is directed to a ventilated cap assembly. The assembly includes an interior, semi-rigid, mesh component sized and shaped to conform to the crown of the user's head. A motorized fan is used to circulate air about the user's head, with intake and outlet openings used to facilitate air flow. A motorized adjustment band allows a user to fit the cap for size while wearing the cap, to ensure optimal sealing to promote efficient air flow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a major object of the invention to provide an improved ventilated headgear assembly.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved ventilated cap assembly.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved ventilated cap assembly with intake and outlet vents.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved ventilated cap assembly with powered airflow.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved ventilated cap assembly with motorized size adjustment.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

The present invention meets or exceeds all the above objects and goals. Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side view, partly in section, of the cap assembly of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view, partly in section, of the cap assembly of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view, partly in section, of the cap assembly of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows an interior view of the underside of the cap assembly of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a detail of a memory foam band positioned in the cap assembly.

FIG. 6 shows a detail of a switch used to activate a fan positioned in the cap assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-6 , the ventilated cap assembly of the present invention, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is shown. The assembly 10 is fashioned in the shape of a standard baseball cap, with a head receiving cavity 20 and a brim 22. The head receiving cavity 20 is sized to receive a range of head sizes. In a preferred embodiment, the cap 20 would be sized in adjustable adult and child sizes, with an infant size also available. The main body of the cap 10 may be formed from any material useful for making caps, but is preferably formed from an elasticated material such as spandex. Thus, for example, the cap 10 may also be made from cloth, leather, synthetic materials, or any combination of the three provided there is enough pliability to allow for size adjustment.

The cap assembly 10 includes, in key aspects, motorized cooling airflow, and a mechanically adjustable, electrically powered sizing mechanism to ensure a tight seal to promote more effective airflow as will be explained in more detail below.

The cap assembly 10 features an internal head receiving mesh material 26, the material attached within the assembly and shaped to conform to the forehead portion of the user's head and positioned primarily towards the forward portion of the assembly 10. The material 26 helps to maintain the shape of the cap 10, which allows for more efficient operation of the assembly 10. It can be readily appreciated that if the assembly 10 gets bent too far out of shape, the airflow will be compromised. The mesh material 26, may be a semi-rigid plastic such as polypropylene, the mesh allowing airflow to reach the hair or skin of the user. The mesh 26 is attached within the head receiving cavity 30 as by stitching, glue, or other means for attaching to the spandex material 32 of the main body 34 of the assembly 10. Attached to the mesh 26 are a pair of spaced fans 40, 42. The fans 40, 42 serve to draw cooling air into assembly 10. The mesh 26 provides an anchoring surface for the fans 40, 42.

Spaced generally circular vents 44 are formed in the spandex material on the top of the cap 10, the vents 44 allowing for air to be drawn into the cap 10. The vents 44 are generally circular, and correspond in size and shape to the fans 40, 42 that are positioned beneath. The perimeter 46 of the vents may be formed by overlapping and double stitching the spandex material 32 in the desired shape as would be apparent to one of skill in the art. The perimeter 46 may be secured to the fan 40, 42 housing to prevent flapping of the spandex material 32. Padding 45 may be added to the perimeter 46 for comfort. A rear vent 50 is formed in the back of the assembly 10 to exhaust air drawn in via vents 44, a fan 52 may be optionally positioned to draw air through the assembly 10.

A sizing band 60 is positioned at the rear 62 of the assembly 10. The band 60 can be moved to tighten or loosen the cap 10 by a motor 64 by effectively increasing or decreasing the interior diameter of the cap. Specifically, the motor 64 drives a rotating gear assembly 66 which has gear teeth, the teeth sized for interaction with teeth 68 formed in the band 60 to cause translational movement within a void 70 formed within the cap rear 62 in the well known manner. One end 72 of the band 60 is attached to the spandex material 32 at the rear 62 of the cap 10, this allowing for size adjustment in the same manner as a conventional adjustable cap. In a key aspect of the invention, snug engagement of the cap 10 perimeter 11 will enhance airflow through the interior of the hat by eliminating leakage about the edges, forcing the air to flow to the rear exhaust vent 50.

A switch 71 is used to initiate operation of the motor 64, the switch being of a toggle type to effect forward and reverse movement of the motor and band 60. A memory foam band 73 is positioned around the interior 74 of the head receiving cavity, the band having spaced apertures 75 for ventilation. The band 73 retains its size after removal of the assembly. The band 73 helps to enhance and customize the fit for the user, with the fit of the assembly 10 primarily adjusted by a mechanism as described above. Thus, the assembly 10 has two means for ensuring a snug fit with the band 73 and sizing mechanism.

A battery pack 76 is used to supply power to fans 40, 42, and 52. Pack 76 is contained within a compartment 80, which compartment 80 is preferably heat resistant. Wiring 82 is positioned between layers of the spandex material 32 to carry power to fans 40, 42, and 52. A male charging port 84 is adapted for insertion into a USB charger (not shown).

A logo 90 may be positioned on a raised projection 92, the projection 92 formed of a semi-rigid material. The projection 92 is backlit so that it illuminates when depressed as described below. As shown in FIG. 6 , a button or switch 94 is positioned beneath the projection 92 so that depressing the logo 90 operates the switch. The switch 94 controls the fan speed. Specifically, the switch 94 operates the fans 40, 42, and 52 in three speed modes. In operation, switch 94 is initially depressed and held for around 3 seconds to initiate fan operation, with at least the logo 90 illuminated to indicate that the assembly 10 is operational. Depressing the switch 94 once initiates low speed fan operation, with subsequent depressions increasing the speed to medium and high speed respectively.

In use, the user positions the cap 10 on their head and adjusts for size using switch 71 to activate motor 64. A key advantage of the inventive cap assembly is that the size can be adjusted while the cap 10 is on the user's head. This eliminates the need to adjust the band 60 manually, reposition on the head to check for fit, and then subsequently adjusting the band 60 until the proper fit is achieved. Once the cap 10 is properly size adjusted, operation of the fans 40, 42, and 52 can be started as described above. Batteries 76 may be charged via charging port 84.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims: 

I claim:
 1. A ventilated cap assembly allowing a user to adjust fit comprising: a main body having interior front and rear portions, a shape retaining member positioned within said front portion, and a size adjusting member positioned within said rear portion; a memory foam band positioned within said main body and attached thereto; at least an intake vent and an exhaust vent formed in said main body; said size adjusting member electrically operated; fans operable to cause airflow into said intake vent, through said interior front and rear portions, and out through said exhaust vent.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said memory foam band retains its shape after removal.
 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said size adjusting member includes a gear driven sizing band operated by a motor.
 4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said size adjusting member and said memory foam band cooperate to enhance fit.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said size adjusting member and said memory foam band cooperate to reduce leaks to enhance said airflow.
 6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein there are three of said fans positioned within said interior front and rear portions. 